Wall construction for buildings



Jan. 2, 1968 c. ROSSO WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS 3 She ts$heet 1Filed Sept. 30, 1965 'INVENTOR CHARLES 1 H0550 ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1968 c.ROSSO v WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Filed Sept. 30, 1965 3sheets-sheet 2 J=' 6 INVENTOR.

CHARLES R0550 B ff ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1968 cfRosso WALL CONSTRUCTION FORBUILDINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Spt. 30. 1965 INVENTOR. CHARLES ROSSOATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,360,892 WALL CONSTRUCTION FGR BUILDINGSCharles Rosso, Cimarron, N. Mex. 87714 Filed Sept. 30, 1965, Ser. No.491,545 9 Claims. (Cl. 52-93) This invention relates to building wallconstruction and more particularly to an improved prefabricated wallstructure for facilitating the securing of inside wall panels to metalframe structures.

Prefabricated metal building structures are in wide use today and findapplication in many fields. Many of these structures are intended bothfor industrial and residential use but do not provide arrangements forthe easy and secure attaching'offinished inside wall panels andinsulation 'batts to the wall structure. Other constructions ofprefabricated walls require special equipment or attaching devices forsecuring inner wall panels on the metal frame members. It is desirablethat when inner wall panels are to be installed provision be made forspeedy and secure attachment of the inside wall panels to the metalframework. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide aprefabricated wall construction including an improved arrangement forsecuring inside wall panels to the metal framing members.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improvedlongitudinal framing member for prefabricated wall structures.

Briefly, in carrying out the objects of this invention in one embodimentthereof, a prefabricated metal building structure is provided whichincludes base, ceiling and 3,360,892 Patented Jan. 2, 1968 of thestructure of FIG. 1 showing an inner wall secured to the structure.

Referring now to the drawing, the prefabricated building structureillustrated in FIG. 1 is mounted on a suitable concrete foundation orfooting 10 and comprises suitable rigid frame bents spaced at desiredintervals along the building, one of the bents being indicated ascomprising an upright column 11 and a horizontal beam 12. Betweenadjacent columns a longitudinal metal foot plate 13 is mounted on thefooting 10 and at the top an inwardly facing eave strut 14 having achannel-shaped cross section extends between the tops of adjacentcolumns; one or more girts 15 are mounted between the plate13 and thestrut 14 in accordance with the requirement of the buildingstructure,'one' girt 15 being employed in the structure illustrated inFIG. 1. A plurality of roof supports or purlins are supported on thebeams 12, one purlin being indicated at 16.

The outside wall of the building is formed by ribbed sheet metal panels17 mounted vertically between the plate 13 and the eave struts 14, thesepanels being secured to the plate 13, girt'15 and strut 14 by anysuitable connectors such as screw fasteners, and in some installationsbeing welded in place. Similar ribbed panels 18 are connected to thecave struts and purlins to provide the roof of the building. Theframework thus constructed comprises a rigid all-metal structure.

intermediate longitudinal members having sheet metal outer walls securedthereto. The longitudinal members are constructed of formed steel orother structural metal and generally comprise web sections havingreinforcing flanges or angles extending the length thereof. In order toprovide for readily securing an interior finish wall such as woodenpaneling, dry wall or the like, an arrangement is provided for securingstuds and plate members to the. longitudinal members and thereby provideattaching surfaces flush with the inner wall and to which the inner Wallpanels may readily be nailed or otherwise secured.

The longitudinal members are provided with vertical 7 aligned recessesor slots for receiving the studs, these slots being spaced atpredetermined intervals along the members. Longitudinal plates may besecured between adjacent studs and the web members ofthe longitudinalsare provided with attaching means for such plates.

The features of novelty which characterize this invention are pointedout with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part ofthis specification. The invention itself, however, both as to itsorganization and manner of use, together with further objects andadvantages thereof, will be best understood upon reference to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly in section and partly 'ceilingpurlin structure of FIG. 1;'

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the cave structure of abuilding illustrating another embodiment 'of the structure; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail view taken from the inside For manybuildings it is desirable to install finished inside Wall panels ofdrywall or various forms of panel board. It is difficult to secure suchpanels to conventional metal structural members and, in order to providea structure for attaching such panels, the various structural members ofthe building are provided with notches, slots or recesses positioned andaligned so that studs and plates suitable for receiving the wall panelsmay readily be secured to the completed structure from the inside. Thesepanel attaching members provide a flush inside surface to whichwallboard and other panels may easily be secured in a conventionalmanner.

In the illustrated embodiment the plate 13 is provided with a pluralityof spaced slots 20 opening toward the inside edge of the plate,indicated at 21, and having upstanding tabs 22 and 23 as shown in FIG.2. The size and configuration of the slots 20 is that of the crosssection of suitable studs 24 which are to be connected to the structureand which have been illustrated as conventional wooden studs. Thesestuds may be 'moved into position bodily directly into the slots 20 andinto similar aligned slots 25 and 26 in the girt 15 and eave strut 14,respectively. When the studs are in position they are secured in placeby nails or the like passing through holes provided in the tabs 22 and23 and similar tabs on the slots in the girt and cave strut. All ofthese slots 20, 25 and 26 are of the same configuration and positionedin the same manner in their respective structural members so that theyare open to the inside of the build- In order to provide horizontalattaching surfaces for the inside wall panels, a plurality of upstandingstop flanges 30 are formed in the plate -13 intermediate the recesses20. Each of these flanges comprises an upright portion 31 and ahorizontal portion 32 extending parallel to the web of the plate 13 toprovide a recess opening toward the inside. This recess is arranged toaccommodate a plate of wood or other suitable material having its endsabutting the adjacent studs 24 and one edge extending flush with theinner edge of the plate as indicated at 33 in FIG. 2. The plates 33 maybe secured in position by nailing them to the plate 13, the nails beingpassed through holes 34 in the portion 32 of the flange. The plate 33 isthus supported on the portions of the plate 13 adjacent the studs 24 andis held down by the flange portion 32 and secured in place by the nails.

A similar set of plate members comprising ceiling plates is securedinvthe eave strut 14 but on the underside thereof, as indicated at 35 inthe broken away portion. A flange 36 ofthe same construction as theflange 30 is formed on the. underside of the lower horizontal wall ofthe eave strut.

The construction of the girt, 15 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.The girt comprises an elongated steel structural element of generallyZ-shaped cross section comprising a main web or flange 37 and upwardlyand downwardly turned flanges 38 and 39 on the outer and inner edges,respectively, of the flange 37. The flange 38 is provided with aninwardly and downwardly turned top rim or portion 41 for reinforcementand the flange 39 is provided with an inwardly and downwardly turned rimor flange portion 42. The slots 25 are cut into the web 37 from theinner edge of the girt and extend through the flanges 39, and 42;

Stud attaching tabs 43 and 44 are struck upwardly out of the material ofthe web 37 in staggered relationship, as shown in FIG. 4, these tabsbeing provided with holes for atfording nailing of the studs 24 to thegirts. In FIG. the outer sheet metal wall panel 17 has been indicated assecured to the flange 38 by a self-tapping screw 45. The edges. of theflange 42 adjacent the slot 25 engage the stud 24 and provide additionalbracing.

The eave strut 14 as shown in FIG. 6 carries the ends of ceiling joists46 which are nailed to downwardly. turned tabs 47 and 48' formed in thelower or horizontal wall 50 of the eave strut, the main web or bottom ofthe channel section, indicated at 51, lying in a vertical planeandhaving the panel members 17 secured thereto. The joists 46 are alsosupported in the ceiling purlins 16 which have upwardly turned tabs 52and 53 to afford nailing of" the joists to the purlins. Additional tabs54 and 55 are provided in the vertical'web 51 so that the joists 46maybe nailed to the purlins on both sides of the web.

The slot in the purlins as indicated at 56 is formed in the, bottom wallof the purlin indicated at 57 and in the main web of the purlinindicated at 58. The slots 26 in the eave strut are provided withupturned tabs 60 at the end of the slotwhich are positioned to abut theends of the joists 46 and hold the ends directly above the respectivestuds secured in the slots 26. However, if desired, the tabs 60 may beomitted and the joists allowed to extend nearer to the main web-51 ofthe eave struts.

For buildings provided with sloping roots the construction of the eavestrut is modified as illustrated in FIG. 7 to form the top wall of thechannel. in a plane having the same slope as the roof, as indicated at62. The eave strut thus comprises a main web 63, a horizontal bottomwall 641 and the topwall 62-. The top and bottom walls are provided withinwardly turned reinforcing flanges. 65 and 66', respectively. The studsecuring slots indicated at 2611 are formed in the bottom wall 64 anditsfiange66. Downwardly turned tabs 67 and 68 are struck from thematerial at the slot 26a in staggered relationship sothat nails may bedriven from either side through the, respective tabs withoutinterference. An upwardly turned, tab .70 is provided at the rear of theslot 26a. Intermediate the adjacent slots 26a there is formed anelongated slot 71 the material of which is bent outwardlyto provide adownwardly extending flange 72 having a horizontal portion 73 extendingtoward the inside wall and providing a recess into which a top plate 74may be inserted and secured by nailing through suitable holes (notshown). formed in the portion 73.

Inclined ceiling joists 75 are positioned in the slots 26a above thestuds indicated at 24a and the ends of the joists 75 abut the tabs 70which carry the side thrust dueto the inclined.ceiling'structure. All ofthe panel. attaching members, including the studs 24a, plate 74 and 4ceiling joists 75, may be moved bodily into position in the structurefrom the inside so that these members may be incorporated in thestructure after the steel framing has been completed.

When all of the studs and plates are in place, the interior wall may becompleted by securing suitable panels such as indicated at 77 in FIG. 1and in FIG. 8 directly to the studs and plates. If insulation isrequired in the walls, suitable batts of insulation may be installed between the studs as indicated at 78 in FIG. 8. These batts are stapled orotherwise secured in position in the wall structure before the innerwall panels 77 are installed.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specificform of steel frame building structure, various modifications and otherapplications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it isnot desired that the invention be limited to the details of constructionillustrated and described and it is intended by the appended claims tocover all modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of thisinvention.

I claim:

1. In a prefabricated metal wall structure, a plurality of longitudinalmembers each having a flat web extending in a plane transverse to thatof the wall, an outside metal wall secured to said members, and meansproviding recesses in said members opening toward the inner side of saidstructure for affording the positioning of studs by bodily movementdirectly into said structure and for securing such studs to saidstructure for affording attachment of finished interior walls thereto,said means including spaced recesses formed in each of said webs openingtoward the inner side of said structure and said recesses in adjacentwebs lying in vertical alignment, tabs formed on said webs and extendingat right angles thereto adjacent the edges of said recesses for faceengagement with studs placed in said recesses and having holes thereinalfording nailing of the studs thereto.

2. An elongated metal element for supporting the inner and outer wallpanels of prefabricated building wall structures and the like, saidelement having a flat web extending transversely of the wall structureand along the inner edge of said element, a plurality of spaced slots insaid Web opening along said edge and shaped to fit closely aboutrespective studs to be employed with said element for holding one faceof each stud flush with said edge, tabs extending from said web normalthereto adjacent the edges of said slots for face engagement withrespective studs positioned in said slots, an elongated stop flangeformed on said web and having a first portion transverse to the plane ofthe web, said flange extending parallel to said edge and in a planeparallel to that of said web intermediate two respective ones of saidslots and having a second portion extending from said first portionparallel to said web and toward said edge and spaced from said web toaccommodate a plate member extending between said studs and along saidedge, said tabs and said second portion of said flange having holes foraffording their attachment to the studs and plate for preventing thedisplacement thereof.

3. An elongated metal element for supporting the inner and outer wallpanels of prefabricated building wall structures and the like as setforth in claim 2 wherein said tabsand said flanges are struckout of thematerial of said web, said flanges beingsubstantially shorter in lengththan the distance between said slots whereby a plate supported on saidweb and abutting studs in adjacent slots is held between said flange atits central section and the portions of said web adjacent said slots.

. 4. In a prefabricated metal wall structure, a plurality oflongitudinal members each having a flat web extending in a planetransverse to that of the wall, and means for securing studs and platesto said member for facilitating the attaching of inner wall panels, saidmeans including spaced rectangular slots in each of said webs openingtoward the inner side of said structure, said slots in adjacent websbeing in vertical alignment, tabs formed on each of said webs andextending at right angles thereto adjacent the edges of said slots forengaging studs placed in said slots and having holes therein affordingnailing of the studs thereto, elongated straight flanges one betweeneach pair of slots and extending transversely to said webs, said flangeshaving portions lying in planes spaced from and parallel to the planesof the respective webs and extending toward the inner side of said wallfor positioning and holding plates between said slots with their endsabutting studs therein and their inner edges flush with the inner faceof the studs, said flange portions being positioned to engage thesurface of plates positioned on said Webs and having holes for nailingto such plates.

5. In a prefabricated metal wall structure, a plurality of longitudinalmembers as set forth in claim 4 wherein said slots and the recessesformed by said webs and said flanges open toward the inner face of saidstructure and afford free bodily straight-line movement of studs andplates into position on said structure whereby said studs and plates mayreadily be mounted and secured to said wall after the metal structurehas been completed.

6. A longitudinal structural element for prefabricated wall structuresand the like comprising an elongated straight body formed to provide afiat web and a reinforcing angle portion extending along the web andhaving a surface normal thereto for facilitating the attachment of anouter metal wall panel, said web having a plurality of equally spacedrectangular slots having open ends along the edge of said web remotefrom said angle portion and having their sides normal to said edge, andta-bs extending from the face of said web normal thereto on oppositesides of said slots whereby said tabs Will lie in face engagement withstuds fitted in said slots at right angles to said web, a plurality oflongitudinal stop flanges formed in said Web one in each spaceintermediate adjacent slots and each extending at right angles thereto,each flange having a flat portion extending toward said edge and spacedfrom and parallel to said web to provide an open slot for the insertionof plate members between each pair of studs and each of said flatportions having holes for facilitating the nailing of the plates tosecure them in position.

7. In a metal building wall assembly comprising an elongated metal baseplate and an elongated eave strut spaced apart and connected by sheetmetal siding, said metal base plate and cave strut constituting upperand lower longitudinal metal wall members, a plurality of upright studsextending between said members, each of said members having pairs oftabs turned outwardly therefrom and fitting against two opposite sidesof each respective stud, means for securing said studs to said tabs,longitudinal plate members extending between each pair of studs withtheir ends abutting said studs, and means including longitudinal flangesturned outwardly of said wall members and extending along one side ofeach respective One of said plate members and having face portionsparallel to and engaging said plate members, and means for securing saidface portions to said plate members.

8. In a metal building wall assembly including elongated structuralmembers and a metal outside wall, an eave strut secured in the upperportion of said assembly, said strut comprising a channel member openingtoward the inner face of said assembly and having an upturned flangealong the inner edge of the lower wall of the channel, spaced slotsformed in said lower wall and said flange and having downturned tabs onopposite sides extending normal to said wall and an upturned tab at theend of each slot, said slots being dimensioned to receive upright studsterminating flush with the upper side of said wall and said tabs havingholes therein for affording nailing of the stud to the strut, saidupturned tab and the edges of said flange affording positioning of asloping ceiling rafter on the end of the stud whereby said up turned tabserves as a stop to receive the thrust of the rafter.

9. In a metal building assembly, a purlin for supporting ceiling raftersand the like comprising a light-gauge steel section having a mainupright web and flanges extending from opposite sides of the web at thetop and bottom thereof respectively, spaced slots formed in the lowerone of said flanges and the lower portion of said web to receive ceilingrafters, a portion of said slot in said web being provided withstaggered tabs extending from the edge of the slot normal to said weband said bottom flange having staggered tabs extending normal to theflange upwardly therefrom whereby a ceiling rafter placed in a slot liesin face engagement with said tabs, said tabs having holes for affordingnailing of a rafter in said recess to said purlin and said bottom flangehaving an upturned portion along the outer edge thereof forstrengthening said flange, said upturned portion terminating at therecess in said flange and its edges being positioned to engage a rafterpositioned in said slots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 859,992 7/1907 Summerscales52-732 2,543,122 2/1951 Motenson 5292 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

7. IN A METAL BUILDING WALL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED METAL BASE PLATE AND AN ELONGATED EAVE STRUT SPACED APART AND CONNECTED BY SHEET METAL SIDING, SAID METAL BASE PLATE AND EAVE STRUT CONSTITUTING UPPER AND LOWER LONGITUDINAL METAL WALL MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF UPRIGHT STUDS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING PAIRS OF TABS TURNED OUTWARDLY THEREFROM AND FITTING AGAINST TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF EACH RESPECTIVE STUD, MEANS SECURING SAID STUDS TO SAID TABS, LONGITUDINAL PLATE MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF STUDS WITH THEIR ENDS ABUTTING SAID STUDS, AND MEANS INCLUDING LONGITUDINAL FLANGES TURNED OUTWARDLY OF SAID WALL MEMBERS AND EXTENDING ALONG ONE SIDE OF EACH RESPECTIVE ON OF SAID PLATE MEMBERS AND HAVING FACE PORTIONS PARALLEL TO AND ENGAGING SAID PLATE MEMBERS, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID FACE PORTIONS TO SAID PLATE MEMBERS. 